Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Is mór an onóir é a bheith anseo. Gabhaim comhghairdeas leis an gCathaoirleach agus leis an iar-Chathaoirleach, an Seanadóir Denis O’Donovan.

It is not my first time to speak in the Seanad. I had that opportunity last year when, along with Senator Bacik, we hosted a session in the Seanad Chamber with the most wonderful young people from around our country. As part of the commemoration of Vótáil 100, they spoke about their ideals and vision for Ireland going forward. It is a privilege to address the Seanad for the second time.

As I travelled here this morning from my home in Newbridge, one of the very few physical journeys I have taken in the past four and a half months, I reflected on the circuitous journey taken from a kitchen table in Cappanargid in Rathangan, where I learned about the importance of politics, community, leadership and social justice, through the chambers of Newbridge Town Council, Kildare County Council, the Committee of the Regions in Brussels and, of course, Dáil Éireann to be here today. I think of all the people who were with me on that journey, some of whom are still with us, some of whom are not, in particular my mother Mary and my father Jimmy, who is not with us any longer. I also thought about all that I had learned through the world of education in Scoil Mhuire, Ballymany, Newbridge, and the realm of the Special Olympics throughout the island of Ireland and across Eurasia.

Today is a momentous day in many ways. It is a day when we have seen the re-emergence of business and society after a very difficult four and a half months. Of course, the difficulties have not ended. My first words in the Seanad must be for those who have lost their lives and the grieving families around the island. Our thanks go out to all of those healthcare workers who sacrificed a lot so that our nation would not lose more. One of the first calls the Seanad should make is for a national day of mourning on which we could share in the grief of those who have been bereaved in the past few months.

Last Saturday, a draft programme for Government became a programme for Government. It is a programme that is appropriate for our time and pragmatic while also being ambitious and visionary. Its ethos is one of renewal, recovery, building safe and secure homes and communities, caring for our young and our elderly, ensuring supports for business, which needs them badly, and educational opportunity for all, and holding honest aspirations for those on the island of Ireland. Senator McDowell was right in that we can never forget about all of those on the island.

My colleague, Senator Chambers, spoke about escaping being on the Cathaoirleach's panel during the Seanad campaign. I was that soldier. It is more than a small miracle that I survived to be here today. It was an experience to compete with the Cathaoirleach. I wish him well. He has the vision, courage, passion and tenacity to make a great Cathaoirleach. I first met him when he knocked on my door as a young man from nowhere, albeit only to a certain extent. I love all of Kerry, but I had seen him on television. I meant "nowhere" in the sense of the political world. I was packing hampers in my sitting room to help make Newbridge a fair trade town. The Cathaoirleach helped me pack bananas and tea into those hampers, which were for distribution to the businesses and schools of our town.

One of my proudest and most emotional moments in the previous Dáil was to work with the Cathaoirleach on the Bill that he introduced on recognising Irish Sign Language, ISL. The Bill was the essence of what I am about - equality, equity and supporting those who need support. That was when I really saw the deep you, the you that cares and will be empathic and compassionate for all.

Theodore Roosevelt said: "It is not the critic who counts ... [but] the man [and the woman] who is actually in the arena ... who strives valiantly". We here are in a small arena of 60 Members, but also a greater arena of all whom we represent. Certainly, no one present has a timid or cold soul. I look forward to working with all Senators on many of the issues of importance to us. Indeed, I have worked with many of them before. I worked with Senator Wall in the Kildare County Council chamber. I look forward to working with him as well as with Senator Martin. It is wonderful that the thoroughbred county has three Senators in this Seanad. I also worked with many former Senators on various committees, in particular the Joint Committee on Education and Skills, of which I was Chair. I shared a stage with the father of the House, Senator Norris, two years ago when we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality with that wonderful woman and great inspiration of mine, the former Minister, Ms Máire Geoghan-Quinn.I thank the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland for its nomination. I am a proud Irishwoman, a lass from Kildare. I am here to serve with humility, compassion and integrity. I am pleased and honoured to do so. Ní neart go cur le chéile.